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The
Tony Finn
Column
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NFL Positional Battles (Part I of IV)
Posted 06/26/06
4for4.com Exclusive
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Positional Battles Part II
Positional Battles Part III
Positional Battles Part IV
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While it’s not too early to phone CNN and report NFL positional battles have begun, it’s still a bit early to take them all to heart. Organized team activities and minicamps have ended and secretly coaches have a good idea who will win the starting roles. Still, those fighting for roster spots have something to say about it.
In Part One of this series I examine the AFC East and AFC South. While none of these roster battles are Tsunami grade, all have some significance.
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills
Battle: Kelly Holcomb vs. J.P. Losman vs. Craig Nall for Bills starting QB
Battle Class: Deep Formats
Tony’s Take: You will find different spins on this quarterback battle depending on who you read, but none of the three will have much fantasy impact outside of deep leagues or an occasional spot start as a bye-week replacement in traditional formats. Losman has the most athletic upside and with some seasoning becomes the biggest threat to opposing defenses but his inexperience created little respect from defensive coordinators last year and the young Tulane arm was schooled in most of his ‘05 starts. Holcomb has the game experience and maybe the most important ingredient for Coach Dick Jauron and the “new” Bills offense - the ability to read defenses and make a timely and accurate audible at the line of scrimmage. Holcomb gets the nod to start the season but expect Losman to replace the veteran when the Bills find themselves out of the postseason picture.
The Winner: Kelly Holcomb
Battle: Sam Aiken vs. Peerless Price vs. Roscoe Parrish vs. Andre' Davis vs. Josh Reed for Bills number two and three wide receiver positions.
Battle Class: Deep Formats
Tony’s Take: Steve Fairchild’s offense is very simple on the surface, but is heavily weighted on timing between the quarterback and the receiver. This is one of the reasons Holcomb is the favorite to win the starting signal-caller role. The Bills new offense will highlight speedy receivers with good route skills, making Davis the favorite for the number-two outside role heading into training camp. Aiken is better suited in a possession role and isn’t quick enough to keep defenders honest in this scheme. Price will provide little more than veteran leadership and an occasional dropped pass. Reed is a better fit as the number-three receiver in the slot and Parrish is the sleeper. Davis’ success will depend on his ability to stay healthy.
The Winner: Andre’ Davis with Roscoe Parrish waiting in the hospital “injury wing” for the first Davis ailment. I look for Reed to be lined up in the slot when the Bills go to three receiver sets.
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Miami Dolphins
Battle: Travis Minor vs. Sammy Morris for the backup RB role
Battle Class: Deep Formats
Tony’s Take: The real winner in this battle might be Michael Bennett if the Dolphins can find a way to swing a trade for the ex-Viking. Morris has a strong edge over Minor if in fact these two are the two running backs battling for the backup role when the team heads into training camp.
The Winner: Sammy Morris
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New England Patriots
Battle: Corey Dillon vs. Laurence Maroney for the starting RB
Battle Class: Traditional Formats
Tony’s Take: Maroney was drafted to add speed to a group that desperately lacks big play potential. Dillon wasn’t impressive in minicamp work this spring and Faulk is best used as a change of pace runner and in specific down and distance situations. Look for the Patriots to use a RBBC approach this season.
The Winner: RBBC
Battle: Reche Caldwell vs. Chad Jackson for the team's number-two receiver role.
Battle Class: Deep Formats
Tony’s Take: Caldwell is considered the veteran while rookie Chad Jackson is the more attractive option, especially filling the role of the departed David Givens. Jackson is clearly the more talented but coach Belichick who demands consistency and focus from his players will find more comfort and trust with Caldwell initially. Expect Caldwell to be listed and work as the number-two opposite Deion Branch during training camp, but injury concerns and the explosive big-play ability of Jackson will eventually win out.
The Winner: Chad Jackson has the long-term value and big play upside.
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New York Jets
Battle: Chad Pennington vs. Patrick Ramsey vs. Kellen Clemens for the starting QB role
Battle Class: Deep Formats
Tony’s Take: The winner won’t have much fantasy value. Pennington will enter training camp as the starter but the health of his shoulder could force Ramsey into an early season starting role. Clemens is a long-term project with late season possibilities.
The Winner: Chad Pennington
Battle: Cedric Houston vs. Leon Washington vs. Derrick Blaylock for the backup RB role.
Battle Class: Traditional Formats
Tony’s Take: New offensive coordinator Brian Shottenheimer hints Curtis Martin’s days as a
20-carry RB are gone and in turn, Houston hits the radar screen as a viable fantasy option. Blaylock doesn’t have the size or the strength to be a full-time workhorse and will be used in a situational role. Washington, much in the same mold as Blaylock is a special team’s contributor and a project in 2006.
The Winner: Cedric Houston
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans
Battle: Antowain Smith vs. Vernand Morency for backup RB role
Battle Class: Traditional Formats
Tony’s Take: The new coaching staff prefers the veteran presence of Smith over Morency -- and has already announced that Smith will be Domanick Davis’ backup this season. Gary Kubiak will expand the zone-blocking scheme of the Texans offensive line and Smith is simply a better fit in this system than Morency. With Davis still experiencing soreness in his knee, Smith is an important handcuff for those daring enough to spend a second round selection on the fragile Davis.
The Winner: Antowain Smith
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Indianapolis Colts
Battle: Dominic Rhodes vs. Joseph Addai for the team's starting RB role
Battle Class: Traditional Formats
Tony’s Take: Arguably the most interesting and maybe most important positional battle at running back in the AFC, especially for owners involved in pre camp drafts. Early buzz all favor Addai. Spending an early fantasy pick (pre-fourth round) on Addai is a gamble, and according to most mock drafts this will be required to retain the services of the Colts rookie. Rhodes is the veteran and he was used as the go-to replacement for Edgerrin James. Indianapolis general manager Bill Polian told the media after Addai was drafted that he fully expects for the two running backs to share the workload this season. What he didn’t say was that fantasy owners should expect Rhodes to get the important carries, at least initially in goal line situations. Addai is the future for the Colts, but re-drafters expecting James-like-numbers from the rookie in the early part of the ’06 season will be disappointed.
The Winner: RBBC initially with long term upside in the corner of Addai.
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Jacksonville Jaguars
Battle: Greg Jones vs. LaBrandon Toefield vs. Maurice Drew vs. Alvin Pearman for the back up RB role.
Battle Class: Traditional Formats
Tony’s Take: The slam-dunk winner here is Greg Jones, who was at times spectacular when filling in for the often-injured Fred Taylor last season. Jones is listed as the teams starting fullback but until Drew can prove his worth, Jones is the more valuable player to roster while waiting for Taylor to find injured reserve. Toefield has poor lateral speed and his vision is suspect while Pearman offers speed and a change of pace option.
The Winner: Greg Jones
Battle: Ernest Wilford vs. Reggie Williams vs. Matt Jones vs. for the starting WR roles.
Battle Class: Traditional Formats
Tony’s Take: Jones is the favorite to replace the retired Jimmy Smith with Reggie Williams filling the second starting role. While this positional battle will have traditional fantasy implications, all three wide outs will have their moments this season. Wilford was the most consistent over the course of the 16-game season last year and the lone surviving contributor for fantasy owners this season will likely be the receiver who stays healthy.
The Winner: Matt Jones with Williams and Wilford both holding some value in very deep leagues.
Battle: Marcedes Lewis vs. Kyle Brady vs. George Wrighster for the TE receiving role.
Battle Class: Deep Formats
Tony’s Take: Brady is considered a sixth offensive lineman while first round draft choice Marcedes Lewis will overtake Wrighster as the primary tight end option in passing situations.
The Winner: Marcedes Lewis
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Tennessee Titans
Battle: Billy Volek vs. Vince Young for the starting QB role
Battle Class: Traditional Formats
Tony’s Take: The departure of Steve McNair makes Volek the automatic starting choice for Coach Jeff Fisher. Young is the long-term project leaving Volek as a situational starter this season depending on the weekly matchup.
The Winner: Billy Volek
Battle: Chris Brown vs. Travis Henry vs. LenDale White for the team's starting RB job
Battle Class: Traditional Formats
Tony’s Take: Brown has yet to play a full season without missing a game to injury, nor has he been able to offer stability to fantasy owners that are required to make that tough Sunday morning decision on his services. Henry was brought in from Buffalo as insurance for the often-injured Brown. But here’s the deal, the Titans found a second round steal with their soon to be starting running back, LenDale White. White has the most upside for leaguers in traditional and deep formats. If healthy he will eventually win the starting role and receive the important touches in the Titans offense.
The Winner: Chris Brown initially with LenDale White the long term fantasy option.
Battle: Ben Troupe vs. Erron Kinney for the starting TE role.
Battle Class: Traditional Formats
Tony’s Take: While both tight ends had over 50 catches last season, this was primarily due to a gun-shy and embattled quarterback that only had young and injured options at wide out. Kinney will play more of the sixth lineman role this season while Troupe gets the snaps in passing situations.
The Winner: Ben Troupe
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